Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dačić on Sunday downplayed the scale and impact of the “Vostani Serbije” (“Arise, Serbia”) protest, saying turnout ranged between 25,000 and 30,000 people across 45 locations nationwide. He described the event as “an absolute failure.”
The protest, organized by opposition and civil society groups, aimed to mobilize public discontent over governance, corruption, media freedom, and the perceived lack of democratic reform. The event took place amid a politically tense atmosphere, ahead of local elections scheduled for June 8 in several municipalities, including Zaječar and Kosjerić.
Speaking to pro-government broadcaster TV Pink, Dačić claimed that public frustration was directed at the disruptive nature of the protests, especially the blockade of two key bridges in Belgrade. “Nobody likes the city being brought to a standstill, and that clearly influenced the turnout,” he said. “The numbers simply cannot be compared to previous protests.”
Turning to the results of local council elections held Sunday in several municipalities, Dačić said the joint list of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and his Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) achieved sweeping victories. According to him, the coalition secured all mandates in Vrnjačka Banja and Dimitrovgrad, and an apparent error or overstatement suggested they won 325 out of 324 possible seats in Vranje.
Dačić reiterated his stance against holding early parliamentary elections, arguing there was no political rationale to call a snap vote. “There is a stable majority, and elections are not in the interest of the state,” he said.
He also criticized the opposition for not participating in student elections, calling their absence “humiliating” and claiming it signaled a lack of public trust. “No one believes they can accomplish anything,” he added, predicting that SNS and SPS would win the upcoming local elections next Sunday.
Serbia, a candidate for European Union membership, has faced increasing criticism from international observers over democratic backsliding, media freedom, and election irregularities. While the government maintains firm control over institutions and major media outlets, opposition forces have struggled to build broad-based momentum, often fractured by internal divisions and a lack of access to national platforms.